Executive and legislative powers are clashing over subpoenas for documents related to the Affordable Care Act's Basic Health Program and its cost-sharing reductions, The Hill reported.
The Basic Health Program is a voluntary state program that provides low-income residents who don't qualify for Medicaid with health insurance options. The cost-sharing reductions are intended to help lower out-of-pocket costs for low-income enrollees, according to the report.
Republicans in the House are pressing the Obama administration to provide documents regarding both programs because they are funded without a congressional appropriation, according to the report. The federal government says it can legally fund the programs under a permanent appropriation for the ACA's tax credits, according to the report.
The issue heated up last week when a transcript was released from former IRS official David Fisher, who said he and other IRS officials had doubts about the legality of the cost-sharing reductions. However, he said they met with the White House and their concerns were resolved, according to the report.
Mr. Fisher is the only government official who has given Republicans insight into internal discussions; other officials have had lawyers who prevented them from discussing internal matters, according to the report.
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